WILLIAM H. MENDENHALL, LT, USN

William Mendenhall '42

Date of birth: April 13, 1920

Date of death: May 3, 1945

Age: 25

Lucky Bag

From the 1942 Lucky Bag:

WILLIAM HANNA MENDENHALL

Mendy, Bill

Mendy's ability to fall in love for a week-end has made him the drag's delight for the past four years. He can hardly be called dumb, having consistently starred without effort. An organizer at heart with some good suggestions and some otherwise, he is an asset to every gathering. Restless when unoccupied, he possesses the qualities that make for success.

Battalion Cross Country; Battalion Lacrosse; Stars 4, 3; Boat Club 4, 3, 2, 1; 2/c P.O.; 5 Stripes.

The Class of 1942 graduated on December 19, 1941, less than two weeks after the United States entered World War II. The class had previously been scheduled to graduate in February 1942.

Loss

Lieutenant William Hanna Mendenhall, US Navy. Photo courtesy of his family.

Lt. William H. Mendenhall (on left) with his commanding officer, Commander Frank D. Latta (on right) at the commissioning of the USS Lagarto (SS-371) on 14 October 1944 in Manitowoc, Wisconsin. Photo courtesy of US Navy Archives.

William was lost when USS Lagarto (SS 371) was sunk by a Japanese surface ship on May 4, 1945 in the Gulf of Siam. He was the executive officer.

His wife, Mary Jayne Mendenhall, was listed as next of kin. She had a long and distinguished life, passing away in 2004. William had a daughter with her.

Other

William is in two photographs from The Baltimore Sun, taken on occasion of his becoming the Commander of the Regiment of Midshipmen.

Photos are dated February 9, 1941; the Class of 1941 graduated in February as the first of the wartime-accelerated classes.

Class of 1942

William is one of 82 members of the Class of 1942 in Memorial Hall.